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Walden  By  cover art

Walden

By: Henry David Thoreau
Narrated by: Mel Foster
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Publisher's summary

Walden is the classic account of two years spent by Henry David Thoreau living at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts. The story is detailed in its accounts of Thoreau's day-to-day activities, observations, and undertakings to survive out in the wilderness for two years.

Thoreau's journal is an exquisite account of a man seeking a more simple life by living in harmony with nature. In today's fast-paced consumer-driven society, the austere lifestyle endorsed by Thoreau is as relevant and refreshing as ever.

Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Walden

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Problem with editing

Although this is generally a good reading of this classic work, I must point out that there is a problem with the way the book has been divided into 2 parts. The end of Chapter 9 has been cut off at the end of Part One. Part Two begins with Chapter 10. Thus someone has made an error and left out a portion of the reading, because the reader is cut off in mid-sentence at the end of Part One.

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator sounds as if he’s badly in need of a nap.

Thoreau deserves better than this narration. His message is important, I think, but I could not listen to this lazy, bored narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pioneer of “Minimalism”

Thought it might be boring but turned out to be a peaceful piece. Thoreau let me to have a good glimpse of what’s like to live in nature. In the a fast paced and materialistic world, it’s very calming to listen to the book and learn to reduce my desires. Too bad Audiobook didn’t correct the glitch of what has reported by other listeners. I chose this version over the other free version in the Plus Catalog because I didn’t like the voice of the reader of the other available one. Disappointed that the problem of cutting off in Chapter 10 or 11 was not corrected.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Stopped Working

A glitch in reading occurs around Chapter 11. I would avoid this version—unless you enjoy talking to customer service.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Missing portions

Um there were some pages cut from some of the chapters. I have read this 3 times and love it every time. A mountain of things should not be the definition of happiness. Walden shares that idea with the reader and offers another idea of how to live.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Early American Beatnik

This is excellent material for the adolescent nonconformist. The language and diction is rather dated, but I got accustomed to it. The reader's style is a believable facsimile of Thoreau himself perhaps, but is a touch clunky and professorial. Great slice-of-life ruminations from an early bohemian living by a deep pond in New England.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I was hoping for something more from what I thought would be a classic. Occasionally interesting, but more often quite boring.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Relevant lovely and important!

You will find Walden as relevant, lovely, inspiring and important in 2022 as it was thought to be 180 years ago!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

“My words will do much good to he whom it fits, so be careful not to stretch the seams when trying it on” - Thoreau

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

boring

I chose to listen to this because I alternate contemporary and classic books, and this us a well-known author and title. What a mistake! I trudged through all 11 boring hours hoping it would get better. It didn’t.

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